The Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology and Sports, Don Polye wants to see greater cooperation and partnership between the governments of Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG)to further excel education at the tertiary level in the country.
Minister Polye, who welcomed Australian Prime Minister (PM) Anthony Albanese to the University of Papua New Guinea School of Medicine and Health Sciences on Thursday 12th January, told Albanese that he looks forward to working with Australia in the area of excellence in education.
“Excellence is very important in this contemporary time, we see Papua New Guinea and Australia and the rest of the world, working and partnering to drive excellence in education, especially in the universities and technical education, it’s very important,” said Minister Polye.
Polye told PM Albanese that it would of great value when he and his Australian counterpart meet and talk about this matter and other matters relating to tertiary education.
The other area which Polye would like to see both countries partner in, is the area of digital learning; that is, visual, online learning and teaching.
He explained that the world is now moving into that space and PNG must migrate into that area too because it is vital for education and training of the country’s future generation.
Another area of partnership Polye highlighted was the networking with some of the major institutions in Australia to share ideas, research, innovations, and technologies.
“I am happy to seize the opportunity that your government is presenting and work with your ministers,” said Polye.
Meanwhile, PM Albanese was at the School of Medicine in Port Moresby to see firsthand the projects funded by Australian government through the Incentive Fund to assist student learning in PNG.
There he was met by the Chancellor for the University of Papua New Guinea Mr. Robert Igara and Minister Polye and the school’s Dean.